Sam Opsahl

Articles:

Bowling

Brickyard 200

The Brickyard 200 began as the Brickyard 400, a 400-mile stock car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race was sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto… Read More »Brickyard 200

David V. Burns

(May 10, 1911-Dec. 25, 1995). The son of Indianapolis architect Lee Burns and Anna Ray (Herzch) Burns, David Burns grew up in Indianapolis and attended Cornell University’s College of Architecture… Read More »David V. Burns

Bush Stadium

After the 1930 season. Norman Perry, Indianapolis Indians owner and president of Indianapolis Power And Light Company, announced plans to build a new baseball stadium on West 16th Street. Built… Read More »Bush Stadium

Chatham Arch

Located on the northeastside of downtown Indianapolis, bounded by I-65, College Avenue, East Street, and North Street, Chatham Arch is marked by its Civil War-style homes and buoyed by the… Read More »Chatham Arch

Clay Terrace

Clay Terrace opened in Carmel in October 2004. The upscale, open-air shopping center exhibited the architectural theme of New Urbanism, harkening back to a pre-World War II main street shopping… Read More »Clay Terrace

Country Clubs

By the late 1800s, country clubs were popular social centers for the cultural elite in many American communities, including Indianapolis. The city’s first country club, the Indianapolis Country Club, was… Read More »Country Clubs

Denison Parking

In the late 1920s, local entrepreneur William C. Griffith and his wife Ruth (Perry) Griffith acquired the Denison Hotel at the corner of Ohio and Pennsylvania streets in downtown Indianapolis.… Read More »Denison Parking

Diamond Chain Company

On Christmas Eve 1890, Arthur C. Newby (future cofounder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway), Edward C. Fletcher, and Glenn Howe invested $5,000 to begin manufacturing bicycle chain in Indianapolis. They… Read More »Diamond Chain Company

Fayette Street

Situated along the Indianapolis upper canal area, bounded by 9th, 10th, Martin Luther King Jr., and North Missouri streets, the Fayette Street neighborhood has a rich residential and commercial history… Read More »Fayette Street

Bryan Fonseca

(Oct. 10, 1954-Sep. 16, 2020). Founder of the Phoenix Theatre, which he led for 30 years. Bryan Fonseca was well-known for staging shows that spotlighted relevant societal issues such as… Read More »Bryan Fonseca

Wayne Fuson

(Mar. 2, 1925–Sept. 30, 1996). Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Wayne Fuson attended Indiana State University before starting his journalistic career with the Terre Haute Star. He moved to Indianapolis… Read More »Wayne Fuson

John (Big John) Gillis

(Sept. 24, 1947 – Nov. 9, 2012). Born in San Antonio, Texas, Gillis moved to the border town of Howe, Indiana, with his family after his father’s retirement from the… Read More »John (Big John) Gillis

Michael Lee Gradison

(Nov. 24, 1942-Feb. 12. 2017). Michael Gradison was born in Clermont, Indiana, attended Speedway High School, and graduated from Brown University with a degree in political science. At Brown, Gradison… Read More »Michael Lee Gradison

Fred Heckman

(Nov. 11, 1923 – May 28, 2001). Born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Fred Heckman’s itinerant family moved 29 times before settling in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Bullis Naval… Read More »Fred Heckman

Horizon League

In 1979, representatives of butler university, the University of Evansville, Loyola University of Chicago, Xavier University, Oklahoma City University, and Oral Roberts University formed the Horizon League, then known as… Read More »Horizon League

Terry (Hutch) Hutchens

(Mar. 19, 1958-Dec. 21, 2018). Terry Hutchens was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Southern California. Aiming to be a sportswriter from a young age, Hutchens studied journalism at… Read More »Terry (Hutch) Hutchens

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts National Football League (NFL) franchise traces its lineage to December 1946, when the Miami Seahawks of the short-lived All-American Football Conference moved to Baltimore, Maryland. The rechristened… Read More »Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis International Airport

During the summer of 1928, the Indianapolis Chamber Of Commerce and the Indianapolis City Council held several discussions about developing a municipal airport. State-owned Cox Field (later Stout Field) was… Read More »Indianapolis International Airport

IndyFringe Theatre Festival

The fringe theatrical movement in Indianapolis, modeled after the Edinburgh (Scotland) Fringe Festival, developed as part of Mayor Bart Peterson’s cultural tourism initiative. The IndyFringe Theatre Festival, commonly called IndyFringe,… Read More »IndyFringe Theatre Festival

Indy Eleven

On January 26, 2013, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the formation of Indianapolis’ professional soccer team known as the Indy Eleven. Named for both Lew Wallace’s 11th Indiana… Read More »Indy Eleven

Indy Fuel

The Indy Fuel was admitted into the ECHL (previously known as the East Coast Hockey League) on November 11, 2013. The ECHL is one of two minor leagues recognized by… Read More »Indy Fuel

Indy Pride

Beginning in the early 1980s, years before the creation of the actual organization, Indiana gay and lesbian organizations like Justice, Inc. and the Greater Indianapolis Gay Business Association (GIGBA) laid… Read More »Indy Pride

Robert Irsay

(Mar. 5, 1923-Jan. 14, 1997). Born in Chicago, Robert (Bob) Irsay attended the University of Illinois before he joined his father’s heating and ventilation business in 1946. Irsay left his… Read More »Robert Irsay

Market East

Located east of Monument Circle Market East is bounded by New York Street, Delaware Street, East Street, and train tracks. Characterized by high-rise apartment complexes as well as key historical and… Read More »Market East

Market Square Arena

When it opened on September 15, 1974, Market Square Arena (MSA), was the fifth-largest sports arena in the United States. The structure’s completion concluded efforts, spurred in part by the… Read More »Market Square Arena

Marsh Supermarkets

Wilber Marsh opened the first Marsh grocery store in 1922 in North Salem, Indiana. By the 1930s, the family owned business had opened a chain of stores throughout Indiana and… Read More »Marsh Supermarkets

MCL Cafeterias

In 1950, Indianapolis cousins Charles McGaughey and George Laughner founded MCL. They were cousins to the founder of MCL’s competitor Laughner’S Cafeterias. A third partner, Charles Chandler, later joined them.… Read More »MCL Cafeterias

Midtown

The neighborhood colloquially known as Midtown is a historically African American neighborhood bounded by 16th Street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Ohio Street, and the White River, although some… Read More »Midtown

NCAA Basketball Finals

By 2020, the city of Indianapolis had hosted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Division 1 Basketball Tournament’s Final Four 7 times. The city’s ability to attract this prestigious… Read More »NCAA Basketball Finals

NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions

The NCAA Headquarters moved from its longtime home in Kansas City to Indianapolis in 1999. Key to drawing the headquarters to Indianapolis was the ability for the city to cast… Read More »NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions

George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia

(Dec. 24, 1920–Nov. 27,1996). George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia was the founder of central Indiana grocery chain O’Malia’s Food Markets. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Joe was the son of Thomas… Read More »George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia

O’Malia’s Food Markets

O’Malia Food Markets founder George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia worked nearly his entire adult life in the retail grocery business. In the years leading up to World War II, O’Malia graduated high… Read More »O’Malia’s Food Markets

Patachou, Inc.

Patachou Incorporated serves as the umbrella organization for the brand of farm-to-table restaurants Martha Hoover started in 1989 with her first restaurant, Café Patachou. With no formal culinary training, Hoover… Read More »Patachou, Inc.

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital

Since 1881, St. Vincent Hospital has provided care to children, but its pediatric hospital did not open until 2003. St. Vincent Children’s Hospital became Indiana’s second freestanding pediatric hospital as… Read More »Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Conceived by Herman H. Rinne, a local music retail businessman and former Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra member, the Philharmonic Orchestra began with three members in October 1940. Open to all who… Read More »Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Willard B. (Mike) Ransom

(May 17, 1916-Nov. 7, 1995). Willard B. (Mike) Ransom was the son of Indianapolis African American lawyer and civic leader Freeman Briley Ransom. He spent much of his upbringing in… Read More »Willard B. (Mike) Ransom

Salesforce Tower

Frank E. Mckinney Jr., chairman of Bank One Indiana, began planning for the building now known as Salesforce Tower in 1969, when his financial institution was known as American Fletcher… Read More »Salesforce Tower

Purpose of Life Ministries

Purpose of Life Ministries began as Second Baptist Church, the first African American Baptist congregation established in Indianapolis. Charles Sachel, a Cincinnati missionary organized the congregation in 1846. It originally… Read More »Purpose of Life Ministries

William E. Steckler

(Oct. 18, 1913-Mar. 8, 1995). Born in Mount Vernon, Indiana William E. Steckler earned a law degree at Indiana University School of Law in 1936. The following year he received… Read More »William E. Steckler

United Christmas Service

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, local newspapers began aiding families asking for help at Christmas. The Christmas program formalized in 1952, when reporters asked United Way to accept… Read More »United Christmas Service

Victory Field

From 1930 to 1996, Bush Stadium, located on West 16th Street, was home to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. In 1992, Major League Baseball (MLB) determined that it did not meet… Read More »Victory Field

Dick Weber

(Dec. 23, 1929-Feb. 14, 2005). Born and raised in Indianapolis, Dick Weber gained notoriety as a bowler while simultaneously working as a local postman. His fame reached an inflection point… Read More »Dick Weber

WFNI

After gaining the rights to Indianapolis Colts broadcasts in 2007, Emmis Communications held the rights for all Indianapolis major sports teams. The company sought to combine its various sportscasts at… Read More »WFNI

Willard Park Neighborhood

Willard Park Neighborhood is a neighborhood organization bounded by Michigan Street to the north, railroad tracks just beyond Washington Street to the south, the alley between Jefferson Avenue and Beville… Read More »Willard Park Neighborhood

WNDE

On November 4, 1924, Clem Portman, John Tribby, Hobart Ashlock, and Frank Sharp introduced WFBM radio to Indianapolis listeners. Operating at 1260 AM, it was the fifth radio station licensed… Read More »WNDE

Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company

In the mid-1860s, J. R. Osgood and S. F. Smith established a business producing wagon and carriage materials on South Illinois Street. In 1870, with Jacob Woodburn of St. Louis,… Read More »Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company

WRTV

Consolidated Television and Radio Broadcasters, Inc., parent of WFBM radio and headed by Harry M. Bitner Sr., of Pittsburgh, received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in early 1948… Read More »WRTV

WTHR

First airing on October 30, 1957, as WLW-I. operating as Channel 13, WTHR emerged from years of licensing battles to become Indianapolis’ fourth and last full-power VHF television station. Crosley… Read More »WTHR

Richard (Dick the Bruiser) Afflis

Allison Transmission

American Fletcher National Bank

Aviation

Babe Denny

Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Stan Berg

Thomas W. Binford

Bob & Tom Show

Bowling

Brickyard 200

David V. Burns

Bush Stadium

Chatham Arch

Clay Terrace

Country Clubs

Denison Parking

Diamond Chain Company

Fayette Street

Bryan Fonseca

Wayne Fuson

John (Big John) Gillis

Michael Lee Gradison

Fred Heckman

Horizon League

Terry (Hutch) Hutchens

Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis International Airport

IndyFringe Theatre Festival

Indy Eleven

Indy Fuel

Indy Pride

Robert Irsay

Market East

Market Square Arena

Marsh Supermarkets

MCL Cafeterias

Midtown

NCAA Basketball Finals

NCAA Headquarters and Hall of Champions

George Joseph (Joe) O’Malia

O’Malia’s Food Markets

Patachou, Inc.

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis

Willard B. (Mike) Ransom

Salesforce Tower

Purpose of Life Ministries

William E. Steckler

United Christmas Service

Victory Field

Dick Weber

WFNI

Willard Park Neighborhood

WNDE

Woodburn Sarven Wheel Company

WRTV

WTHR